VBS truths

We love Vacation Bible School! This past week we had the privilege of helping and participating in VBS at our church. It was truly a blessed time. I can't tell you how 'filled full' I felt as we would drive home in the car and the boys were belting out the songs, going crazy doing the motions in the back and in between songs eagerly telling each other what they did that day in their "tribes." The theme was a visit back to Babylon as we learned about Daniel's life in captivity, and how he truly did live out a life of faith despite some very difficult circumstances. 


Some of the truths we will hide in our hearts are:


 ~God is in control...Daniel had some major things change in his life and could have been very depressed about that, but he chose to stand firm on the Rock that never rolls, our Awesome God.
~He's only a prayer away...Maybe one of the lesser known stories about Daniel is that he was called on to interpret the King's dreams more than once, and he was told that if he couldn't tell him his dream and interpret it, he'd be cut into pieces. Great. So, that seems nearly impossible. But Daniel did what he knew to do, he called on God for help, and God absolutely revealed those hidden things of the King's dreams. Amazing! So then why is it so hard for me sometimes to believe He is helping me when I call on Him in my everyday?
~When we're afraid, He is with us...A few of Daniel's friends got thrown in a fire when they wouldn't bow down to a statue. But guess what? They didn't get burned at all. Not even a hair on their head was singed. God can do that with any of the fiery trials & fears that we face. We can come through them without even smelling like smoke.
~We're never actually alone...Daniel must have felt pretty alone a lot in his life, always choosing to remain faithful to the Lord, despite the opposition and temptation to "fit in" with the mainstream (or even just to do something out of fear of losing his life!). It does seem lonely in this world sometimes when we choose to live our lives for God. We are actually aliens--the Bible confirms that (1 Peter 2:11)! But our Lord will never forsake or abandon us. 
~Being thankful invites God's presence & blessing..."I'm sure Daniel was pretty thankful when he didn't get eaten by the lions." (said by Luke on the last night of VBS) The Bible says that Daniel "prospered" after every time he chose to trust God when he could have run the other way or just cowered into a heap on the floor out of discouragement. Choosing to trust, to abide, to watch and wait and expect His work in our lives is truly a place of rest, of thanksgiving, of Joy. 


We were thankful to be a part of such an amazing week. God is faithful! Now onto potty training this week...;)